CFP: Iain (M.) Banks (UK) (2/28/06; 9/2/06)

CFP: Iain (M.) Banks(UK) (02/28/06; 09/02/06) Call for papers for aone-day conference hosted at University of Westminster, London England.

The UK Network for Modern Fiction Studies in partnership with theUniversity of Hull invites proposals for papers and panels for our Iain(M.) Banks conference to be held on Saturday 2nd September 2006 at theUniversity of Westminster, London. This is the first UK conference tofocus solely on Iain Banks and coincides with the publication of hislatest novel.

Confirmed speakers include: Tim Middleton James Kneale

Iain (M.) Banks is unquestionably an original, innovative writer whosework is marginalised and remains on the periphery of academicacceptance, failing to gain recognition from the contemporary canon. Hisoften experimental, avante-garde and cross-genre narratives areconcerned principally, but not exclusively, with the contestation ofidentity, sexuality, and selfhood. Gavin Millar's successful andacclaimed adaptations of 'The Crow Road' and 'Complicity' have made hiswork known to a larger audience. As a high-profile writer who appearsregularly on television, Banks has a dedicated fan base illustrated bythe circulation of The Banksoniain, a publication entirely given over tohis writing and thinking. Possibly because of the difficulty attached tocategorising Banks' writing, compounded by his decision to publish hisscience fiction writing under the name of Iain M. Banks, his work hasbeen neglected. Under scrutiny these publishing distinctions seem tocollapse as Banks' use of fantasy is pervasive across his work.Moreover, characters and personality types also resurface causing anetwork of reflections throughout his work.

Possible topics include but are not limited to:* The Scottish writer* The fantastic* Theorising Banks* Redefining gender* Other worldliness* Screening Banks* Memory* The threat of incest* The Gothic and post-Gothic* The player of games* The avenging angel* Variable fictions